HALF MOON CAY, Bahamas -- Carnival Cruise Line unveiled a fully revamped RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay on June 1, welcoming guests to unwind on a pristine stretch of white sand at its Bahamian private destination.
The line, which shares the island with sister brand Holland America Line, now offers its guests easy access to the previously undeveloped north side of the island, which features five distinct beach zones, each with complimentary umbrellas and loungers along with their own bar or restaurant.
Other enhancements include a 1,005-foot-long pier that can accommodate two ships at once. Thanks to the pier, guests arriving on the north side can walk right off their ship and onto the island. A new tram service connecting each of the new areas makes it a breeze to get around.
RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay is exactly what the name indicates: relaxing. There are no waterparks or other high-octane entertainment. Activities include snorkeling, kayaking, nature walks and horseback riding, with the most exhilarating option being water-scooter rentals.
There are plenty of lounge chairs -- nearly 10,000 -- as well as daybeds and cabanas available to reserve.
"We really wanted to keep RelaxAway a little bit more relaxed and low-key versus what you see at Celebration Key with the big lagoons and the swim-up bars and the castle, the slides," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "We want to keep RelaxAway pristine and relaxing, a place to enjoy nature."
When passengers arrive at the end of the long pier, they are greeted by a small local market and the first tram station. From there, they can spread out along the beach -- and the farther out they go, the quieter it gets.
After arriving on the Carnival Sunrise for the opening day festivities, the beach never felt crowded as passengers steadily made their way to the sand to frolic in the water.
I stretched out on a lounge chair, staring out at turquoise water. Teal umbrellas swayed in a gentle breeze long after the squeals of beachgoers and the hum of an enjoyable day in the sun had quieted.
As I waited for the tram to take me back to the ship as one of the final passengers on the island, I fully appreciated just how truly peaceful this stretch of sand was.
RelaxAway's food and drink
Complimentary lunches are served at the Orchid Beach Grill and Hibiscus Beach Grill. Fare includes hot dogs and burgers along with a nacho bar (pulled pork and chili con carne variations were offered the day I was there), salads and a small dessert bar. Both venues are expected to be open when there are two ships in port but may alternate if there is just one.
There are three bars -- the Luna Tide Beach Bar, the Stay Awhile Beach Shack and the Lil' Tiki Bar -- along with multiple gift shops selling sundries, bathing suits and branded items.
Parent company Carnival Corp. doesn't have further expansion plans for the island, but the space is there: less than 3% of Half Moon Cay is actually developed.
Duffy said Carnival may look into expanding shore excursions or adding an adults-only area.
"With all of the new ships that are being delivered in the industry and the size of the new ships, there's only so many places that these ships can go," she said. "That's really driven a lot of the need for more of what we'll call 'exclusive destinations.'"
Because the new pier enables Carnival's largest ships to visit the island, many more people can experience it, Duffy added.
Travel advisors can sell it
The updates to the island are expected to be a selling point for travel advisors, said Janet Wygert, the cruise line's senior vice president of trade sales and marketing. While guests traditionally have focused mostly on what ship they're booking, now they're also seeking out itineraries that ensure they visit a private destination, she said.
Cruise ships first started visiting this 2,400-acre island, which sits halfway between Eleuthera and Cat Island, in 1997. But before the long-planned revamp, both Carnival and Holland America ships had to drop anchor and shuttle passengers to land by tender boat, which is still how Holland America passengers arrive at the south end of the island.
Currently, 22 Carnival ships will include a stop at RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay on their itineraries. Although the pier can accommodate two ships, Carnival said only one ship will dock per day through September while operations ramp up.